SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
June 17, 2025
Sullivan’s Salvos 6/19/25
In this edition:
*Pride Parade
*Aquifer Study
*Striking Workers at CWJ
*Base Names
*Financial Data
*Sickening Stats
*Did You Know?
*Pride Parade
As usual, I am looking forward to the annual Pride Parade this Saturday. You know, it is interesting – there are now many, many groups of which I am a part that march in the parade. And that is great! And every year, multiple groups ask me to march with them. Also great! But every year, I continue to march with the Johnson County Democrats.
There is a big reason for that. Despite my affection for all these other groups, the Johnson County Democrats were the group that marched when the others were too scared, or too uncomfortable, or too divided, or too unsure. Understand - we had lots of debates at JC Dems meetings. It took some convincing. But Pride won out. Long ago. And I am really proud of that!
So see you at the parade! I’ll be marching with the JC Dems!
*Aquifer Study
Johnson County recently contracted with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to study the quantity of water available in our local aquifer. The preliminary results are in, and worthy of discussion.
First, some background. Way back in 2005, my friend Jim Walters was expressing concern about the amount of water available to us here in Johnson County. We had been experiencing tremendous growth for almost two decades at that point, and it was a reasonable question to ask. The problem was, no one had an answer.
I went to our Planning and Zoning staff, and as luck would have it, the USGS was actually looking for a project in the area. I managed to find advocates on the Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty, and Solon Councils, and they shared in the cost. The report came out in 2006, and actually said we were doing OK. There was some depletion of the aquifer, but it was minimal.
Fast forward to 2022. I had been asking our Planning, Development, and Sustainability (PDS) Department Director Josh Busard about updating the study. (We now call what used to be “Planning and Zoning” “Planning, Development, and Sustainability.”)
We got lucky once again with the USGS. Josh connected with the USGS back in 2022, and they had federal money available for a study; we just needed to come up with a match. Johnson County picked up most of the tab, with several cities in the area pitching in to help with the cost - Coralville, North Liberty, Tiffin, Solon, West Branch, Mount Vernon, Fairfax, Lisbon, Swisher, Shueyville, Riverside and Atkins.
So, since 2022, a contracted team of hydrogeologists has collected data and studied the Silurian aquifer in the target area, an area spanning over 1500 square miles and reaching eight counties: Johnson, Linn, Benton, Iowa, Washington, Louisa, Muscatine, and Cedar.
The Board got to see a draft of the report just a couple weeks ago. What is the news? Well, I need to offer some caveats. This is a scientific study, and it requires scientific interpretation. I tried to push for some specifics, but the USGS staff just weren’t willing to go there, given that it is a draft report. And I respect that. (Once the final report is sent to us, it will be available on the PDS page of the County website.)
In my very rudimentary understanding? The aquifer is simply not recharging like it did two decades ago. Our climate has gotten drier over that period, and our temperatures are hotter. When we do get rain, it comes harder, and runs off more quickly. Meaning it leaves the area more quickly, and does less to recharge the aquifer. All seem to be a long-term trends. So less water is entering the aquifer.
On the other side of the equation, we are using more water. Not only is the population up a lot, but so is per capita water usage. Homes are using more water. Industries are using more water. Agriculture is using more water. Data centers are a huge water user.
So we have less water coming in, and more water going out. Both trends have accelerated over the past 20 years. The models do not show that changing. So we need to do something different. I think it is pretty obvious - we need to slow down our water usage.
We cannot create more water. So we need to start taking water conservation seriously. There are lots of innovations out there, from the American southwest to Israel, Saudi Arabia, Australia, and other locales. There are things we can begin to do now that might keep us from being as desperate as those places.
Some of these are easy and obvious: fix leaky faucets, toilets, hoses, etc. Take shorter showers. Don’t let the water run while you shave, brush your teeth, or do dishes. Do full loads in the washing machine and dish washer.
There are many additional actions we can take, including low-flow toilets, plants that require less water, and a myriad of technological fixes.
The big question will be: What actions do we take? I’m sure many people will voluntarily take steps to make things better. Others will not. Will we begin looking at changes to city and county ordinances? Will we use incentives, penalties, or both? What are we going to do?
This is not a reason to panic. But I hope it is enough incentive to act. I look forward to the official report, and I look forward to your ideas.
*Striking Workers at CWJ
I took some time this week to meet with the striking workers from the Center for Worker Justice (CWJ). Unfortunately, these workers feel that working conditions have deteriorated to the point that they needed to walk off the job. This saddens me, as I have been involved with the CWJ since its inception. I hope the CWJ Board will come to the table and listen to the staff.
I have heard some people around the community claim that these workers are being manipulated. What a racist, arrogant, pompous, condescending thing to say! Because they are immigrants they don’t know when they are being treated badly? Bullshit!
I spoke to the workers in question. They know full well what they are doing. They are calling the shots. And they deserve to be respected, not just by the CWJ Board but by the community at large.
The CWJ workers may not get everything they demand. Workers rarely do. They deserve a fair process, and I hope CWJ will offer that. But to hear people minimize their personal agency and self-determination is quite frustrating.
*Base Names
President Trump recently announced that he would be renaming several US Military bases – some after men who were traitors! That is correct; men who took up arms against the US Government will have US Military bases named for them.
Here is how stupid this is: The attack on Pearl Harbor killed 2500 Americans. Did we name a Naval base after Emperor Hirohito? The 9/11 attacks killed 3000 Americans. Did we name an Air Force Base after Osama bin Laden? America lost 410,000 in WWII. Did we name a military base after Adolph Hitler?
Robert E. Lee was a traitor. He turned against his country, and is responsible for the deaths of 360,000 American soldiers. He should have been hung for treason, but General Grant felt a parole agreement would help the country to heal. Lee was shown much more mercy than he ever showed others.
My daughter Rachel served at Fort Lee. I was always amazed at the name, and I was glad President Biden changed it. This makes me sick. It should make everyone who cares about our military sick.
*Financial Data
Johnson County has over $22 billion in assessed valuation. Remember, that does not include any property owned by the UI, Johnson County, any cities, or any school districts, as they are tax exempt! Yes, Johnson County is thriving!
Our borrowing capacity is now at over $1 billion, though we only have about $13 million borrowed. I am (and have always been) proud of the way we handle our finances in Johnson County!
*Sickening Stats
The GOP – including Marianette Miller Meeks and Joni Ernst - decided to stand by and watch as Donald Trump and Elon Musk destroyed the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). That decision has cost over 300,000 people their lives around the world.
According to Dr. Brooke Nichols of Boston University, who mathematically models infectious diseases, the destruction of USAID is killing about 103 people an hour, most of them very poor children. In addition, about 1500 babies a day are born with HIV because Republican cuts stopped their mother’s medications.
So Miller Meeks and Ernst have decided that in order to make billionaires richer, poor kids must die. It is sickening.
*DID YOU KNOW? The Silurian Period was a geologic period spanning from approximately 443 to 419 million years ago. It is known for significant changes in Earth's environment and the evolution of life, including the rise of coral reefs and the diversification of fishes. The Silurian also saw the beginning of land colonization by both plants and animals.
Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
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---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 7:35 AM
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